Oppressive Heat and Automated Electric Companies

It's so hot, even the backs of my kneecaps are sweating.

Today was one of those days that comes with a check list of things to do. For the most part I was successful in accomplishing everything on my list: I shaved manually; finished and turned in grades; went to the dentist to get my permanent crown; returned to the university to change my mailing address and direct deposit information; had a blueberry doughnut; picked up the keys to my new apartment; took some measurements of my new place to see how many of my belongings can fit; called the electric company no fewer than eleven times in order to have the utility switched over to my name, only to be greeted every time by an automated voice telling me that all operators are currently busy and to please try again later; ate dinner; and made a pathetic game plan to get me through this week of moving and transitions.

Tomorrow I begin the process of moving in by purchasing renter's insurance from our local agent and then taking the "bare essentials" to the apartment -- items belonging to the kitchen and bathroom -- as well as a few random boxes. The rest will follow in some sort of disorganized fashion. I've got a decent view of an alley and the backs of several of Main Street's old, historic buildings. I'm also only half a block from the river. I like it; it gives me the illusion of big city life. My goal is to be entirely moved in by Saturday afternoon... maybe sooner if I can round up enough people and vehicles to move the bed, couch, dresser, and other more difficult items. I'll be sure to post pictures once I'm established.

Now I'm going to close this muggy day of perspiration by retiring to my air conditioned bedroom with a good book and a White Russian, thankful for the inovation of climate control, and even slightly appreciative of weather I presently despise, but will yearn for come January.

If we are to eat, we must first be eaten

"Will you let me be your servant..."

As I was drying off after showering, I noticed an irregularly shaped, bulbous mole on my right thigh. Just above my knee was this dark brown bump that, after running my finger over it, seemed to actually be more of a scab than a cancerous mole. However, after picking at the scab (like I do to most scabs I encounter... both my own and others') I discovered that it was not dead skin at all. It was, in fact, a TICK!

I took a very short walk through some very cut-back woods yesterday with Maria and friends, was wearing pants, and even had tick repellent spray on my exposed feet, so I was very surprised to find this tag along tapping into my blood supply. I was also slightly concerned, considering that if the tick was from the woods, I had been playing host to its feasting for some sixteen hours. Eeep. However, I put on shorts when I got home last night, and it seems like I would have noticed this thing when I got undressed last night. But if it didn't come from the woods, how else did I get "ticked" when I went straight into the house upon my return home? I didn't even take a stroll through the vegetable patch or anything.

It's been a puzzling and humbling experience all the same.